Download Common Communicable Diseases

Common
Communicable
Diseases
Respiratory Infections
O Most common
O Caused by virus or bacteria
O Avoid contact with people who are infected
O Wash hands
O Keep hands away from eyes and nose
O Avoid smoking
Common Cold
O Viral
O Inflammation of mucous membranes in nose
and throat
O Symptoms
O Runny nose
O Sneezing
O Sore throat
O No cure
O Only treatment for symptoms
O Most colds clear up in a weak- “run its course”
Influenza
O Viral infection of respiratory tract
O Symptoms
O High fever
O Fatigue
O Headache
O Muscle ache
O Cough
O An antiviral drug can be given for the flu only
if given with onset of symptoms
O Proper nutrition
O Plenty of rest!!
O Plenty of fluids
O Flu vaccine annually
O Flu can lead to pneumonia
O An infection in the lungs in which the air sacs
(alveoli) fills with pus and other liquids
Pneumonia
O One of the Top 10 causes of death in the US
O Viral Pneumonia is short lived- similar to flu
O Bacterial pneumonia can be treated with
antibiotics if diagnosed early
Strep Throat
O Bacterial infection
O Symptoms
O Sore throat
O Fever
O Enlarged lymph nodes in neck
O If untreated can lead to kidney infection and
rheumatic fever (cause heart damage)
O Antibiotics can treat it
O Throat culture is taken to identify bacteria
Tuberculosis (TB)
O Bacterial disease in lungs
O Spread through air
O People with weakened immune system developed the
disease when the bacteria is present other do not
O Symptoms
O Fatigue
O Coughing (blood)
O Fever
O Night sweats
O Weight loss
O Treated with antibiotics but can be resistant to some
Hepatitis
O Inflammation of liver
O Caused by chemical (drugs and alcohol) or
many pathogens
O Vaccines for Hep. A and B
O Symptoms
O Fever
O Nausea
O Vomiting
O fatigue,
O abdominal pain
O Jaundice- a yellowing of the skin and eyes
O Most recover 100%
Hepatitis A
O One of the top ten communicable diseases
in the US
O Most commonly spread through contact with
infected person’s feces
O If an infected person doesn’t not wash hand
after using the restroom they can
contaminate objects, food or people
Hepatitis B (HBV)
O More serious virus
O Found in bodily floods
O Most often transmitted through sexual
contact
O Also by sharing needles
O Often causes severe liver damage
O Liver failure, cancer, and cirrhosis (scarring of
the liver)
O Heb B responsible for 80% of liver cancer
O Reduce risk by abstaining from sexual
contact and illegal drug use, avoid sharing
toothbrushes and razors
O Contaminated tattoo and piercing needles
can spread the disease
O Vaccine is recommended
Hepatitis C
O Most common blood-borne infection in US
O Most commonly spread by needles
O Can lead to chronic lever disease, Liver
cancer or Liver failure
O 90% of people do not know they have this
until routine test show liver damage
O Avoid illegal drug use and sharing tooth
brush and razor
Mononucleosis
O Viral infection
O Spread through direct contact, “kissing
disease”
O Symptoms
O Chills, fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen
lymph nodes
O Treatment- rest
Measles
O Virus
O Symptoms
O High fever, red eyes, runny nose, cough,
bumpy read rash on head or face
O No cure but vaccine available
Encephalitis
O Virus carried by mosquitoes
O Causes inflammation of brain
O Symptoms- headache, fever, hallucinations,
Confusion, paralysis, problems with speech,
memory, behavior and eye movement
O If caused by herpes simplex virus treated
with antiviral medicine
O If caused by other virus no treatment
Meningitis
O Virus or bacteria cause inflammation of the
O
O
O
O
membrane that covers brain
Symptoms- fever, sever headache, nausea,
vomiting, sensitivity to light, stiff neck
Viral: antiviral medicine
Bacterial: antibiotics
Vaccine is available
Emerging Infections
O A communicable disease whose incidence in
humans has increased within the past two
decades or threatens to increase in the near
future
O Transport across borders
O Humans and animals car pathogens to new
region where disease was not present before
O Dengue fever, west Nile, carried by
mosquitoes
O Population movement
O Increase in Lyme disease as people have
moved into heavily wooded areas
O Resistance to antibiotics
O Over use of antibiotics resulted in pathogens
becoming resistant
O Changes in food technology
O Mass production and distribution of food
increases risk of spreading contaminated
food
O Agents of bioterrorism
O Releasing pathogens
O Could spread rapidly